Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX)

What is iDEX?

Innovations for Defence Excellence (iDEX) is the Ministry of Defence's flagship defence innovation programme, launched by the Prime Minister in 2018 and run through the Defence Innovation Organisation (DIO). According to the Department of Defence Production, DIO is a not-for-profit company set up under Section 8 of the Companies Act, 2013 and is funded by the defence public sector undertakings Hindustan Aeronautics Limited (HAL) and Bharat Electronics Limited (BEL).

iDEX gives Indian startups, MSMEs, individual innovators and academic institutions grant funding to build prototypes against real problem statements issued by the Indian Army, Navy, Air Force, Defence Space agencies and Defence PSUs.

Budget outlay

• The iDEX scheme was approved with an outlay of Rs 498.78 crore for the five-year period 2021-22 to 2025-26.
• The ADITI sub-scheme was approved with an outlay of Rs 750 crore for 2023-24 to 2025-26.

Key objectives

• Accelerate the development of new, indigenous and innovative technologies for the defence and aerospace sectors.
• Create a culture of co-creation and co-innovation between the armed forces and the Indian innovation ecosystem.
• Reduce dependence on foreign original equipment manufacturers in critical and strategic technology areas.

What funding does iDEX offer?

The SPARK grant is milestone-linked, not paid as a lump sum. According to the iDEX FAQ, the disbursement pattern is 10 per cent at Milestone 0, 20 per cent at each of Milestones 1 to 4, and 10 per cent at Milestone 5. Each tranche is released only after the Ministry of Defence accepts the deliverables for that milestone.

ADITI: Acing Development of Innovative Technologies with iDEX; was launched by the Defence Minister on 4 March 2024 at DefConnect 2024. ADITI funds up to 50 per cent of the Product Development Budget with a ceiling of Rs 25 crore, which means a project drawing the full grant must carry a PDB of at least Rs 50 crore. ADITI targets around 30 advanced critical technologies by 2026 in areas such as satellite communication, advanced cyber security, autonomous weapon systems, artificial intelligence, quantum technology, underwater surveillance and semiconductors. The fourth edition of ADITI carried 25 problem statements across the Indian Army, Indian Navy, Indian Air Force and the Defence Space domain.

Who is eligible for iDEX?

You can apply if:

• You are a startup recognised by the Department for Promotion of Industry and Internal Trade (DPIIT).
• You are an MSME as defined under the Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises Development Act, 2006, and hold a valid Udyam Registration.
• You are an Indian company incorporated under the Companies Act; ADITI is aimed primarily at MSMEs and startups within this group.
• You are an individual innovator. Individual innovators may apply, but must formalise themselves as a startup before the grant agreement is executed.
• You are a research and development institution or an academic institution.

You cannot apply if:

• Your entity is not incorporated or registered in India. Foreign entities and Indian subsidiaries used as fronts for foreign OEMs are not eligible, since the stated aim of iDEX is to reduce dependence on foreign OEMs.
• You already hold five active iDEX contracts. The iDEX FAQ caps an entity at five simultaneous contracts, of which at most one may be an ADITI contract. Entities sharing common founders or promoters are counted collectively, so splitting applications across related companies does not increase the cap.
• Your proposal does not map to an open challenge and is not a fit for the Open Challenge track; iDEX funds against problem statements, not general research.
• You are applying to ADITI without a credible Product Development Budget. Since the ADITI grant is capped at 50 per cent of the PDB, an unsupported budget makes the application not eligible for the grant amount claimed.

What documents are required for an iDEX application?

How to apply for iDEX funding

1. Open the official portal at idex.gov.in and register your startup, MSME, institution or individual innovator profile, then log in.
2. Go to the Challenges section and identify the live challenge you want to apply against, a DISC problem statement, an ADITI problem statement, a Thematic Open Challenge, or the year-round Open Challenge.
3. Read the problem statement document carefully for the technical specifications, the applicable grant ceiling and the closing date of the application window.
4. Complete the online application form, describing your proposed solution, the technology readiness level you have reached, your team, and the development milestones you commit to.
5. Upload the Product Development Budget with a line-item breakup. For ADITI this determines your grant, since the grant cannot exceed 50 per cent of the PDB or Rs 25 crore, whichever is lower.
6. Attach the supporting documents — incorporation certificate, DPIIT recognition or Udyam certificate, PAN and, where asked, audited financials.
7. Submit the application before the window closes and note the reference number for tracking.
8. Clear the preliminary scrutiny by the Nodal Agency, which checks eligibility and completeness.
9. Present your solution to the High Powered Screening Committee, which evaluates innovation, technical feasibility, relevance to the problem statement and commercial viability.
10. On selection, sign the SPARK or ADITI grant agreement with DIO and begin milestone-linked development.

How are iDEX applications evaluated?

iDEX applications go through a two-stage funnel. Nodal Agencies. The incubators and accelerators partnered with DIO, first carry out preliminary scrutiny to weed out incomplete and ineligible applications. Shortlisted applicants then present to a High Powered Screening Committee, which assesses four things: the degree of innovation, technical feasibility, relevance to the stated defence requirement, and commercial viability of the eventual product.

Selection is competitive. Under DISC and ADITI, a single problem statement typically attracts many applicants and only a small number of winners are awarded SPARK or ADITI contracts.

What has iDEX achieved so far?

According to the Press Information Bureau, as of March 2026 iDEX had:

• Engaged 676 startups, MSMEs and innovators.
• Signed 551 design and development contracts.
• Cleared 58 prototypes for procurement, at an approximate value of Rs 3,853 crore.
• Seen 45 procurement contracts signed, worth about Rs 2,326 crore.

These numbers matter for an applicant because they show the funnel: a large number of development contracts, a much smaller number that converted into actual procurement. Winning an iDEX grant funds the prototype; it does not by itself guarantee an order.

What happens after the prototype is built?

A completed iDEX prototype can be procured by the armed forces or a Defence PSU under the iDEX procurement provisions of the Defence Acquisition Procedure, which allow a simplified route for iDEX-developed products. The product must still clear user trials and the applicable procurement process.

Innovators retain the ability to commercialise the technology, including for export markets, ADITI in particular is aimed at technologies with export potential.

Help and contact

• Email: idexdio@ddpmod.gov.in
• Portal: idex.gov.in, challenge listings, application forms and bulletins
• Department of Defence Production: ddpmod.gov.in for scheme guidelines for both iDEX and ADITI

All iDEX applications are free to file on idex.gov.in. No consultant or agency can secure an iDEX grant on your behalf, and grants are released only against accepted development milestones.